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Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1925, Page 2

llow lie underwent a very fiery crossexamination in various parts of the world during bis recent tour was related by Mr Justice Higgins, President of the Commonwealth Court of Arbitration, on his return to Melbourne last week, when be was welcomed by the Bar Association. “11l Egypt,” said His Honour, ‘‘l bad the pleasure of considering the ways of a mixed tribunal. 1 was under the guidance of a very old friend of mine who was one of Hi justices. While in Italy I attended a criminal trial at which I raw ail accused man brought into court in an iron (’age. In England I bad the privilege of meeting most of His Majesty’s Judges, including the l.nw Lords. ii whom rests the ultimate say' in appeals. I was induced also to address at Oxford an association of politics, philosophy, and economics. The audience comprised the principal examiners and teachers for the grades. They gave mo a very good ‘bearing’, and put me on my mettle to answer their Hirst exacting questions. 1 iound that my wicked career bad become further known than I had appreciated. 1 had sat on the bench with the Chief Justice of the new Free State of Ireland, and in Boston I addressed the B ; r Association at a meeting which was attended *by most of the justices of that famous Massachusetts bench. In Boston, also, 1 sat beside a Federal.! Judge, who was trying a case of ‘bootlegging.’ Incidentally I learned something of the price of •moonshine.’ 1 was the guest of two of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the l nite States, including Mr Justice O'i " Wendell Holmes, whose name speaks his ancestry. The system pursued by the Commonwealth Arbitration Com t is deemed worthy of study by a professor in Washington. He was engaged in the task of working up all our decisions and preparing criticisms upon them. In Washington I was Invited to give an address. I have had many bad half hours in any time, but never a more strenuous halt-hour than I s| cut at the ((inclusion of that address. At .Montevideo 1 was surrounded by tile whole of the Labour Party who questioned me about our Arbitration Court, and at Buenos Aires ] bad an oj portunity ot addressing a world Economic Conference. 1 spoke in English, which was translated into (Spanish.”

Tun Westland Hospital Board finds itself in the position of being able to make a fairly substantial reduction in the levy on flic local contributing bodies. The amount of Hie reduction proposed is £Bll compared with the previous levy. Reorganisation and economies no doubL account for the improved position, luit the handsome donation from i lie Savings Bank ini.-tces must have been helpful, also. Last

year there was an expenditure of in connection with the Old People’s Hume at- Kumara, now closed, and though the patients are now at 'Westland Hospital, it is proposed to administer the local institution this year tor practically the .same outlay as last year. That is an important saving if it can he effected, and from the levy on the ratepayers, justifies the change over. The Hoard having eoneentrated on one central institution, should now centre special interest, in the local management with a view to more definite omit ml. and the avoidance of waste etc. The local institution i.s well equipped and capable c.f meeting the needs’ of the district. But there should he the avoidance of extravagance. '1 members are displaying a personal i> tercst in the matter, and that duty will now he greatly facilitated by having all the .stall' under one roof as it were, and in close touch with the central management.